Roburt

With at least 3 books that will make mention of Philly soul in the 60's / 70's due out in the near future, another one has beaten them all to the finish line ..... ALREADY AVAILABLE is ....... “Joy Ride! The Stars and Stories of Philly’s Famous Uptown Theater” ..... “Joy Ride! The Stars and Stories of Philly’s Famous Uptown Theater” is the exclusive, behind-the-scenes, inside story of iconic disc jockey Georgie Woods’ spectacular R&B shows at Philadelphia’s Uptown Theater, and how the controlled creative chaos at the majestic movie house inspired “The Philly Sound.” Told by the people who actually lived it, “Joy Ride!” is the first comprehensive history on the Uptown, which was once a mandatory stop on the legendary “chitlin’ circuit.” It features the intimate, amusing, outrageous and sometimes scandalous stories of dozens of decorated entertainers, including 11 Rock and Roll Hall of Famers. All agree that like Georgie Woods’ soulful theme song that opened his R&B extravaganzas, every show at the Uptown Theater was a“Joy Ride!” ...... see here ....... .https://www.phillytrib.com/lifestylesarticles/item/9303-joy-ride-tells-story-of-historic-uptown-theater.html ... AND HERE ....https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stories-Phillys-Famous-Uptown-Theater/dp/1479789003/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

You're right, it had to be the US cover by Louis Jordan that Georgie was 'following' musically rather than the Gene McDaniels original / hit version. Yet another version to throw into the mix then ......

This is one of the few records that would benefit from having the vocals removed & being turned into an instrumental dancer (the vocals are that poppy and crap). Can't say its a track I'd ever want to listen to away from a nighter venue, much better sticking with sumat with decent soulful vocals for real listening purposes.

Sooty, I think Gene McDaniels vocal on "Point of No Return" is better than Georgie's .... but I like the musical approach / arrangement of Georgie's track the better. The backing on GMcD's version is much more poppy / gimmicky IMO. George does it more jazzy R&B style.

In my opinion, 99% of UK covers of R&B / soul songs are total crap. How anyone who says they like soul can put the Moody Blue's abysmal version of "Go Now" above Bessie Bank's classic version is totally beyond me. Most acts were just using existing hit US tunes to get a 'head start' in getting themselves into the UK charts. Many times it was the producers fault, they took a US song and cut it on the next act they had in the studio. From 1962 (say) through to around 1968, R&B / soul was the 'in-flavour'. Just about every UK act filled their live act with covers of US tunes. Artists such as the Searchers, Hollies, Amen Corner, the Move, Simon Dupree and millions more would trot out awful versions of "Open The Door To Your Heart", "The In Crowd", "Knock On Wood" and hundreds more. Many folk wax lyrical about the cuts made by the Walker Brothers. I hate just about every cover this transplanted US act cut here, the original versions of the songs they took into the charts were ALWAYS better (IMO). A few UK acts cut covers as they really admired the original US versions which had largely gone unnoticed by the UK record buying public (coz gudol Auntie BBC would always play the UK cover ahead of the US original from 1960 to the start up of Radio One). A guy (who again IMO) did pay homage to the originals with his version was Georgie Fame. He cut loads of covers, though he usually only intended his version to be a LP track that reflected what songs he was performing live at the time (his record company sensing bigger sales, did otherwise). MY NOMINATION for a track where a UK artist (Georgie Fame) cover was better than the US original (Gene McDaniels) is this ......... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5867K7iSUo

The Dixon family (out of Pittsburgh) made up the Caprells .... and they owned / ran the Bano label. Guess they pressed one version of the 45 up to meet local sales and when it took off over a wider geographic area of the States, they did a 2nd press. Some of their Bano cuts were picked up for national distribution by Ariola America Records. Lots of info on the group on another current thread.

An interview about this film ............ https://blogs.kqed.org/pop/2013/05/03/twenty-feet-from-stardom-the-world-of-backup-singers/

So he must be Winston Francis as well ?!? .......

Trentham Gardens ..... 1999 ... the Dells in full swing on stage ............. so just why is 'our kid' posing while Dave Leedham takes a portrait shot of him ......... .... surely, like me, he should have had 100% of his attention focused on the great group on stage !!!!

Another of his old efforts .......... ... don't think many Fleetwood Mac fans would be too impressed .........

On DISCOGS, it says that the Soul Vibe label was US based. The producer of "I Wonder Why" was Errol Thompson. He also worked with the likes of Horace Andy, Gregory Isaacs & Dennis Brown back then. The Well Charged (group) web site ... https://www.wellcharged.com/ The group with Winston (W King Cole) still play gigs, can't be bad as he must be a good age. It says on there that the original version was cut & released in 66 but I think that's about 8 years too early.

Lots of Bajans & Jamaicans headed off to the UK in the 60's / 70's .......... BUT just as many headed off to Canada, Miami & New York to find jobs / secure a future for themselves. Like the Caribbean exiles here in the UK, the Canadian & US based ones got nostalgic for home and the music they had grown up with. So, in Canada, Miami & New York, little labels sprung up to meet the demand for 60's / 70's 'Island music'. Hence lots of ska, reggae & 'Island soul' has been reissued in the US over the last 30 years.

You'll have to ask Dave, he's the one who spent hours chatting with Mervin. Both Dave & I know the full line-up of the group BUT I guess only Dave has asked what the other 2 guys are up to now. The 'Mystro & Lyric' story + the full Four Perfections story (with all it's Philly connections) will be covered in detail in Dave's book ..... .... my connection to the 'Steals' is only really where they connect with Kenny Hamber & his career story. As I said in my 1st post, both guys have now retired from their day jobs .... so I guess they would have the time .... .... though they are OLD now (like most of the rest of us unfortunately) & their 'public singing' days are over 40 years back. BTW, I didn't start this thread as a 'spoiler' for Dave's book ........ though I'm not sure he sees it that way. Like most US soul music guys, Melvin (& Mervin) are finally getting to understand the lasting interest of us UK soulies in what they did back when.

Doesn't look like a real Mayfield demo to me.

Original is a 70's Jamaican item .... guess the guy was trying to cash in on Nat KING COLE's name, probably did lots of NKC's songs in his live act. Maybe 2nd press was done to meet New York area demand (Pete S will probably know better than me).

More Pittsburgh soul (& funk) from that era .............. ....... the same group (amended name) ........ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXlqT_2J-6w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIj-9Sd6NuA

Salem Travelers "Don't Leave Me' .... off the ABC LP I make mention of above ........... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWM5Itij6G4

Like many US cities, Pittsburgh had a thriving live soul music scene back in the day (60's / 70's). So the local groups had venues to play where they could 'learn their trade'. The ones that stayed the course got to record, either locally or away from the city. BUT it wasn't only local acts that had plenty of places to play. Upcoming / big acts would come to town to play a gig for a local radio DJ and thus they established a profile that allowed them to land lucrative shows in the city. A few acts that played Pittsburgh back then AND some of the venues they performed at ............

Not an 'expert' really on the group's output. I like their stuff & with DeWayne Chandler getting in touch & telling me he recorded / worked with the group, I did a bit of additional checking around. It's little local outfits such as the Caprells, running their own label and the like, that makes collecting soul 45's so fascinating (plus the music's good of course). Apart from their Bano output, I just know about their Philly cut & released 45 ...........

Don't think this group were actually taking the p**s BUT they called themselves .... ...... the Mighty Unknowns (& nowt is known bout em) ..... another go at "Man Needs God" ......... see post # 56 .....

More from Tommy Ellison & the Singing Stars ........... "Crossroads" ......

Recognise this song ........... Tommy Ellison & 5 Singing Stars "A Man Needs the Lord" ....

Another gospel version of a soul song ........... ... the Speight Sisters "Lean On Him" .......

You might just know this song as well .......... .... Julius Cheeks "If Serving God Is Wrong" ........... the lead vocals are by George McAllister ...

.... and probably my fave gospel version of the song ..... the Ramada Singers .......